A Coffee with My Younger Self: Celebrating Women of Brunel
2025-03-07T21:05:00Z
The Workplace
At Brunel Americas, we’re proud to celebrate International Women’s Day by spotlighting the incredible women on our team who help drive our success. This year, we’ve asked some of inspiring female Brunellers to imagine they are sharing a coffee with their younger selves — reflecting on the advice they’d give their younger selves.
The idea for this blog came from the 'I Met My Younger Self for Coffee' trend that started on TikTok, but worked its way across various social platforms. Professionals like Eleni Garidis, Global Client Executive at LinkedIn & Co-Chair of Women at LinkedIn, APAC, have taken to their social media to share their own motivating chats with a version of themselves from the past. Anecdotes like these have had an astounding resonance with women as they share how the ebbs and flows of life have had an impact on their identity, professionally and otherwise.
Through the stories shared by the women of Brunel, we hope to inspire young professionals navigating their own journeys. From career wisdom to personal growth, these heartfelt insights remind us of the strength, resilience, and ambition that shape remarkable careers.
The Women of Brunel: 'Met My Younger Self For Coffee'
After taking some time to reflect, and search through old photos, members of the Brunel Americas team from the US, Canada, & Brazil came back to us with pieces of wisdom they would share if they sat for coffee with their younger selves. Here are their quotes:
Carolina Nogueira | Marketing Analyst, Brazil
- Nothing lasts forever, neither happiness nor sadness. Enjoy the good moments, and be kind to yourself during the tough ones, but don’t take too long to start again.
- Treat yourself with more love. You’re not harsh with others, so don’t be so hard on yourself. Practice self-love.
- You are curious and love learning new things and studying. Don’t forget that, even when you feel tired and unmotivated. Always remember the joy of knowing a lot about something you love and the excitement of discovering something new.
Livia Costa | HR Manager, Brazil
- Invest in technical knowledge and your emotional intelligence. Professional life is not just about what you know, but how you communicate and how you build healthy and respectful relationships.
- “The journey is made by walking.” - Don't rush, but don't lose focus. Success doesn't happen overnight. The experiences you'll live, the failures you'll face, and the people who cross your path will teach you a lot, and all of this is part of the growth process. Be patient but maintain the determination to keep learning and adapting along the way.
- Surround yourself with people who support you, encourage you to progress, and push you to be a better version of yourself. Stay away from those who only see the problem and never think about solutions.
- Never underestimate the power of putting yourself in new situations - of learning things outside your comfort zone. This will be the key to opening incredible doors for you.
Kerrianne MacMullin | VP, Canada
- Understand that tough love is a gift. When teachers, coaches, or friends push you, it’s not to tear you down it’s because they see something in you. They know you’re capable of more, and they’re investing their time to help you reach your potential. Appreciate that. It’s one of the greatest gifts you’ll receive.
- Choose the right measuring stick. If you must compare yourself to others, do it with purpose. Surround yourself with people you admire—people who inspire you to be better. Then watch how much you grow in their presence.
- Be curious and don’t be afraid to question the status quo. Not just for the sake of questioning, but because meaningful change starts with curiosity. It’s okay to challenge ideas—just do it with respect and a genuine desire to learn.
- Never assume you know someone’s full story. Everyone wears a mask, and you have no idea what battles they’re fighting. Before you judge, pause. Put yourself in their shoes. A little empathy goes a long way.
Tania Sinibaldi | Brunel Managing Director of Operations
- Stay Curious & Keep Learning – Never stop asking questions, exploring new ideas, and seeking knowledge. The world is full of opportunities to grow, and your curiosity will open doors you never knew existed. Keep learning, not just from books but from people, experiences, and even mistakes.
- Think for Yourself – There will always be people trying to sway your opinion or tell you what to do. Listen, but don’t be easily influenced. Do your own research, understand the facts, and make decisions based on what aligns with your values and goals. Be a leader in your own life, not a follower trying to please others.
- Listen to Understand, Not Just to Answer – You don’t always have to have the answers. Take time to truly listen, absorb different perspectives, and learn from others. Soon, you'll encounter the term Imposter Syndrome as a female leader. Fight the negative talk in your head and remind yourself that you belong. Growth happens when you step out of your comfort zone—embrace it.
- Kindness & Gratitude are Strengths – The way you treat others says more about you than them. Always choose kindness, even in difficult situations, and never underestimate the power of gratitude. Appreciating the small things in life will keep you grounded and attract more positivity.
- Travel to Expand Your Cultural Awareness – Seeing the world will teach you more than any book ever could. Travel to understand different cultures, perspectives, and ways of thinking. This awareness will help you appreciate diversity, inclusion, and belonging—essential values in today’s workplace. Diversity of thought is a key ingredient to future success.
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Christina Schnee | HR Manager, USA
Only Spend Time with Those Who Truly Value You – Surround yourself with people who uplift, support, and prioritize you. The right relationships will bring you joy, confidence, and peace. Let go of anyone who makes you feel unworthy or unimportant. "Surround yourself with only people who are going to lift you higher." – Oprah Winfrey
Don’t Let Others Define You or Hold You Back from Your Dreams – Your path is yours alone, and no one else gets to decide what you're capable of. Believe in yourself, chase what sets your soul on fire, and never dim your light for someone else’s comfort. "Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Curiosity is Good—Keep Exploring & Learning – Never stop asking questions, seeking new experiences, and expanding your mind. Curiosity leads to growth, opportunity, and discovery. "The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing." – Albert Einstein
It’s Never Too Late to Rebuild & Grow Stronger – No matter where life takes you, you always have the power to start fresh and create something even better. Every challenge is a chance to rise higher, wiser, and more resilient than before. "Rock bottom became the solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life." – J.K. Rowling
Enjoy Life—Don’t Just Chase Goals, Savor the Moments – Success is important, but so is laughter, love, and the little joys along the way. Don’t get so caught up in the future that you forget to live in the present. "Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things." – Robert Brault
Conclusion
As we reflect on these messages, we celebrate the diverse stories and perspectives that make Brunel a place of empowerment and opportunity.
Let this International Women’s Day remind us of the importance of lifting each other up, learning from the stories of those around us, and continuing to pave the way for future generations of women.
Happy International Women’s Day from all of us at Brunel Americas!